WomenLift Health names Dr Ayesha Chaudhary as India Director

WomenLift Health has appointed Dr Ayesha Chaudhary as India Director for its programs and strategic initiatives in the country. Ayesha, who has served as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India and as a Director at the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, brings rich experience and insights to lead WomenLift Health’s mission to advance women leaders in health in India and globally.

“Ayesha brings a passion for women’s leadership coupled with broad experience as a health leader and innovator. Her appointment as India Director comes at a time when we are poised to expand our programs and partnerships to reach more women health leaders, both globally and in India. We are excited about the impact we will create on the lives and careers of women leaders working in public health in India.” says Amie Batson, President, WomenLift Health.

Ayesha will lead efforts to expand WomenLift Health’s mission of creating and nurturing women leaders in global and public health in India through its flagship program, the India Leadership Journey, which beginning 2024, will double its operations. Ayesha’s experience of working at the helm of the public-private initiatives in India will enable WomenLift Health to build new partnerships with key stakeholders. Most notably, Ayesha will lead the implementation of WomenLift Health’s recently announced partnership with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) to train women leaders in science, technology, and innovation, through the Women Leadership in STEM (WLS) program.

“Women’s leadership in India is a multi-layered problem, which requires unbundling leadership as a unique skill at a personal, professional, societal, and spiritual level. At WomenLift Health, we intend to drive a mindset and behavior change, empower individuals, institutions, and societies to reimagine leadership through innovation, and use effective leadership to further impact global health outcomes,” shared Ayesha.

Ayesha brings a wealth of experience working with key stakeholders in India, including academic institutions, multi-lateral organizations, and national government agencies. She has been a co-founder of a med-tech startup and has also worked in the healthcare industry. Ayesha is also an alumna of WomenLift Health’s inaugural 2022 India Leadership Journey cohort. “In fact, this experience motivated me to contribute to women-led development in global health, through WomenLift Health,” she adds.

Ayesha’s strategic vision aligns seamlessly with WomenLift Health’s commitment to promoting diversity and creating opportunities for women to thrive in the health sector. WomenLift Health aims to identify and invest in thousands of women leaders in global and public health, including from India, by the end of the decade. These women will be equipped to transform public health for better outcomes through their effective leadership.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ayesha to the WomenLift Health family as India Director,” said, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai and WomenLift Health Global Advisory Board Member. “We believe that under Ayesha’s guidance, WomenLift Health will make significant strides in fostering a more inclusive and diverse health leadership in India.”

Prof K VijayRaghavan, DAE Homi Bhabha professor and former director of the National Centre for Biological Sciences and former Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, spoke about how Ayesha’s commitment to advancing women’s health aligns with the WomenLift Health mission. “I am confident that Ayesha will lead WomenLift Health with dedication and excellence,” he added.
MB Bureau